by Idan Kweller, Jerusalem Post Staff
Sources say Washington proposed safe passage for Hamas terrorists in Rafah in exchange for the return of Lt. Hadar Goldin’s remains.
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Washington promised Hamas terrorists safe passage in exchange for the return of deceased hostage Lt. Hadar Goldin, sources involved in the negotiations told Walla on Sunday.
The source stated that the terror group approached the US negotiation delegation via intermediaries and requested the safe passage of approximately 200 terrorists holed up in the Israeli-held Rafah area of Gaza.
However, the source did not clarify where the terrorists would be transferred to, stating that it is possible they will be transferred to Egypt, rather than into the Gaza Strip.
Turkish officials claimed to be instrumental in facilitating Goldin's return to Israel after "intensive efforts (reflecting) Hamas' clear commitment to the ceasefire."
"At the same time, we are working to ensure the safe passage of some 200 Gazan civilians currently trapped in the tunnels," an official told Reuters.
Goldin held meters from IDF troops in Gaza
N12 News reported that Turkey pressured Hamas not to surrender Goldin until the terrorists were guaranteed safe passage. However, Goldin was returned before the IDF agreed to return the terrorists trapped in Rafah.N12 reported that Goldin's body was returned after Hamas learned that the IDF had discovered Goldin's location and could thus no longer delay his return.
Goldin was held in a tunnel system that the IDF was calling the "White Sparrow.” Soldiers were operating meters from his body for months, but were unable to locate his body.
Hamas terrorists murdered Goldin in Gaza on August 1, 2014, during Operation Protective Edge.
Hamas terrorists holed up in the Israeli-held Rafah area of Gaza will not surrender to Israel, the group's armed wing said on Sunday, urging mediators to find a solution to a crisis that threatens the month-old ceasefire.
Sources close to mediation efforts told Reuters on Thursday that terrorists could surrender their arms in exchange for passage to other areas of the enclave under a proposal aimed at resolving the stalemate.
Egyptian mediators have proposed that, in exchange for safe passage, terrorists still in Rafah surrender their arms to Egypt and give details of tunnels there so they can be destroyed, said one of the sources, an Egyptian security official.
US likely to pressure Israel to ease stance on terrorists in Rafah tunnels, official tells 'Post'
Senior Israeli officials estimate that US pressure will push Israel to show flexibility regarding the issue of the terrorists in the Rafah tunnels, an Israeli official told The Jerusalem Post.“Outwardly, everyone declares that Israel will not allow those 100–200 terrorists to leave the tunnels, even if they lay down their arms,” the official said. “But behind closed doors, everyone admits: if there is significant American pressure on this issue, Israel will have no choice but to compromise.”
US officials also made it clear in recent days that they want to resolve the issue of Hamas terrorists in the tunnels, saying that they "think [the terrorists] should get free passage, after Goldin's release."
Amichai Stein, Jerusalem Post Staff, and Reuters contributed to this report.
Idan Kweller, Jerusalem Post Staff
Source: https://www.jpost.com/middle-east/article-873292
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